Bah I Give Up
 

I've never been so disappointed in a game that shows so much potential .I can see great improvements like combat,love how sensors,supplies,ordnance work and would be great fun to play just nothing works.

I don't know where to start. I dont expect a game bug free theres just no way thats possible. But Se5 is horrid.. Mp doesn't work for me at all. Alt Tabbing Does work at all ie minizming the game. I have it installed on 2 different computers and they each have there own game busting bugs that pop up after awhile..

One computer the graphics get all screwy after awhile and it crashes and the graphics stay all screwy for that save. The other one just crashes randomly during combat. I cant create large galaxies on one computer cause the game refuses to fill out the solar system no warp points or suns after a certain number . The other one gives all the warp points and such but the game is so terribly slow at processing ill be 40 before i finish a game. Which wouldnt be so bad if the increase in processing time was directly tied to an improved Ai.. But sadly its not. The AI is more incompetent than ever.

I have Organic Satellites with one piece of organic Armor on automatically regenerate it appears to be all armor damage every few seconds so i put 3 sats down and i can stop 6,7 frigs.. And this is what 2,3rd patch?.

I've never made it to turn 50..Only thing that i can do and find enjoyable and semi playable is turn all techs on and have ships and such fight each other in the simulator. And even thats a chore if i want decent sized battles cause i still have to manually add ever ship,fighters,sat and such after i painstakenfully click and drag craploads of modules to the ship

And thats just part of the UI problems.

Maybe in 5,6 months and 4,5 patches and the balanced mod even more refined it'll actually be playable..

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I can relate to what you have said. In fact I was just sitting here as the PC warmed up thinking about the game and about how I just don't feel that it measures up to the previous version.

But I also keep reminding myself that this game and its developer are not like other game companies. That despite the many flaws of the game, it will get better over time. That the developer will continue to work on improving the game and fixing what is wrong long after the bean counters say end it.

I hope that in 5 or 6 months from now you return and find that the game has indeed gotten a lot better and choose to play it again.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

First thing:
Don't play stock. Get Kwok's balance mod (AKA KwokStock)

You probably need to set the video memory to safe mode (in the video setup on the very first splash screen)


Those two things should relieve a lot of your issues.
Setting the Hotkeys to something you're used to, and shift-click on numbers and the design screen are big things for the UI side.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I had a lot of issues until I went to safe mode, but that begs the question. How many people are having to use safe mode to be able to play and if its a high percentage then is there an underlying problem in the basic design of the game/graphics engine? Or does it work on one pc, the developer's? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

ps Kwok's Balance Mod Rocks

@ Atrocities - while I agrre with you to some extent that it doesn't measure up, Do you have direct knowledge of poor sales or this sense that the developer has lost hope for this title or is this behind the scenes rumours? Curiosity really, Not everyone is in the know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Some of us just prefer not to know. A little faith… If it’s all the same I would prefer this one be kept to PM’s please.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I hope so. Id love to play the game as it should of been.. Maybe ill be able to after some more patchs.. But it has a long ways to go..







Me and my friend tried Mp in the balance mod and this computer has it and what i've been using.. The other one doesn't..

I've knocked down the video detail lvls ill try the safe mode thing maybe it'll get rid of the graphical problems. And yea those things make the UI easier but still its just a pain

Re: Bah I Give Up *DELETED*
 

Huh? WTH? No no, I don't have any such direct knowledge and have editted my comments to avoid giving that impression.

I was trying to relate to the poster and how he felt about SE V. I have been there, with games like BOTF, Rebellion, Tribes Vengence, and Moo3. In other words I have been in his shoes. I wanted to express to him that SE V is not like other games and that despite its flaws it will continue to get better. I simply just didn't articulate my comments well enough to correctly express my intentions.

I play SE V daily and am very thankful for such a privlage. I have nothing but faith in the developer and the game.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I guess I'm lucky having had no expectations for the game at all. I had just gone through massive disappointment with NWN2 though and know what you mean.

It's harder to accept flaws in something that you're really passionate about.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Oh yeah, good one. Which is more disappointing, SEV or NWN2 ? Both are horrible bugged, but NWN2 at least offers decent graphics.

lol

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

NWN2? What is this?

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I actually got tired of NWN2 before I managed to finish the main quest( although not because of bugs). Then I started BG2 again. Now that's a fine game.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

A couple of years ago I bought a game called Far Cry. I had played the demo and found it to be one of the most engaging FPS to come along in a very very long time. I expected the full game would be a let down, and the problems I had with the graphics seemed unsurmountable, but with a little help, and a patch, all my concerns melted away into a blissfully enjoyable long and exciting game. Far Cry really pushed the envelope of design and in doing so redefined FPS's. Then came Half Life 2. Man I had such high hopes for this game. It turned out though that it was less enjoyable than even I had expected it would be. It was short, very scripted, had no freedom of movement or choice of alternate direction as Far Cry had, but damn it sure looked fantastic graphically.

Good things come at you when you least expect them and from directions you would never expect. I can list a small handfull of games that really set themselves apart and thankfully SE V is in that list along with Freespace, Tribes, SimCity 3000, System Shock 2, and of course SE IV.

I think the major problem with games today is that the cost of development is so great that in order to justify that cost they must release games too soon. In doing so they hurt themselves horribly and jepordize sales and thus future support deminishes. This seems to be a developing, and alarming pattern as of late. Thankfully there are still a few game developers out there that buck this trend, such as Malfador and set themselves apart in doing so.

This is why I have faith that SE V will continue to improve because Aaron has a track record that speaks for itself when it comes to game support. A solid record and one that I desperately wish other game developers would openly subscribe to. If they would, then they too would become the champions of truly successful games.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I have no doubt that SEV will get patched etc. Even though i dont feel like spending $$$ in order to have a product which can enjoyed only 6 months (+) later. Have to admit though, i cant name one game which was playable right after the release within the least 6 months or so. Either the game itself is broken, or it has a totally inbalanced multiplayer part.
Now that i think about it, Company of Heroes had no imbas and almost no bugs.


Believe it or not, at this point i prefer MoO 3 (with user fixes/mods) over SEV with Balance mod.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I will have to get a list of those Moo3 fixes from you some day and where I can download them. I paid good money for that game and would like to at least be able to play it once before I loose the disks.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

heh http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Well, lets just hope SEV will get fixed before that time.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Atro - Far Cry? You actually liked that game? No offense intended, bro, but are you not usually an FPS gamer? By which I mean, are you not comparing it to the Quake series, or HL1?

Back on topic - you shouldn't have to play a mod to make the game work. Admittedly, part of this is personal prejudice. I don't like other people's mods. Sorry, no offense intended, but every SE4 mod I have ever tried has had something about it that strongly put me off. That's not to say they weren't good mods, just that they didn't appeal to me personally.

And I'm torn here. Yes, I have been a nay-sayer from the get go. And yes, I have taken some flak for that. So naturally there is a sense of vindication in now hearing even the hard-core loyalists express some disillusionment. OTOH, I have never wished the game to fail. Au contraire, I just wanted the ****ing thing to work.

I don't want the game to flop, just so I can say "neener neener, I was right."

I'd be much happier to see all the problems fixed, so you guys could say to me, "neener neener, Possum, we told you it would come right in the end."

Whatever. Que sera, sera.

In the meantime, may I politely remind all you gentlemen that SE4 still exists. It works fine. It's still just as much fun as it ever was.

Wanna play?

My awesome fun PBW game is stalled indefinitely, due to health & ISP problems afflicting the host. The ironic part is, the host is in 1st place on the scores list, and I'm in 4th of 5 players, but I'm still having a real blast with it. Or rather, I was...

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I played more FPS games than any other game type out. From Doom to F.E.A.R.. And Far Cry is one of the best. (MP sucked horribly though.)

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

But Team Fortress is all mods...

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Fyron, you got me there http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

What I should have said is, I don't like other people's SE4 mods. Or rather , I have yet to discover one that appeals to me.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Oh thats mean Possum. Both Adamant and STM were really good mods. Same goes for Devnull, and various other small mods.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

The neat thing is, if you don't other peoples mods, you can always make your own. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

@ Atrocities

I guess I read more into it than was really there and meant no offense. A lot of people have so many different expectations of SEV and eventually they will be met.

At least the modders are generally happy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Theonlysdt.

Games should not cause so much frustration. SE can cause that frustration. SEIV I hate the game. Hate it. The combat system sucks. Imagine playing a game for 6 months and the combat system kills 100 % of your ships to 0% of the enemy. It still does it today in stock and after many patches. I still play it once in awhile. Mind you its awhile but some people here try to drag me back in. Feel like it is the Godfather.

As to your comments.

You got a few choices.

1. Shelf it and come back in a few months / patches to see what has happened.

2. Dump it and forget about it.

3. Shelf it and work on one of the mods starting out here and only play the game to work/test the mod. ( enjoyable and you get to meet some people from around the world ( Added bonus of the game getting patched and causing chaos on your mod ))

4. Continue to post what you like and dislike about the game. Post what does not work and ask a tester to forward you bugs ( email your bugs as well )

5. Something else :-) If it does not catch you then it does not catch you. SEIV reminded me of my love of MOO and Steel Panthers.


SE is a game that you gotta hate to love. It has a family and members come and go. I am one who has left. I lurk now and try to figure out how i got out of gaming ( well i think about it maybe 2 minutes a month ) I have a commitment to beta test sev so I continue to do that for a few hours each week.

Follow your heart. I think you have enough passion about the game to complain about it. Perhaps you see that it can evolve into something. The question is. Do you wish to shape it or not?

I hope this post does not offend you. It was not its intention. It was only to offer suggestions. Take Care and enjoy your days.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

5. Something else. I wonder why GalCiv2 is not popping up more often here. They will release an addon soon (Feb 07) and the AI should be among the best.

"Don't play stock." Haven't we said that about SE4 already? I guess that means: Bugfixes yes, but AI improvements (and such) never.

PS: I'd appreciate if somebody would point me on the list of recommended MOO3 mods again...

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

My guess is because GC and SE are totally different types of games.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

My guess is because GC just plain sucks ?

PsychotechFreak: Atari official Forums, Mod subforum.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I had no idea. This comes as somewhat of a surprise to me.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Looks like they've made MoO3 mod picking a little easier. There's basically 3 packs, "vanilla", "strawberry" and "tropical". They all include the code patches/mods that alters the exe file too, so you really just need the latest official MoO3 patch (1.2.5 or something) and one of those mod packages. The Vanilla package is basically just a gigantic bug fix package, while strawberry and tropical both add/change things not 'bugged'. I'd go for either strawberry or tropical, but read the descriptions and see what looks tasty.

Find the mods here

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Now, now, Raggy!

Look back to my big post 4 notches above the one I'm quoting here. In that post, I said -

"Sorry, no offense intended, but every SE4 mod I have ever tried has had something about it that strongly put me off. That's not to say they weren't good mods, just that they didn't appeal to me personally".

A mod is somebody's vision. Somebody else's vision, not mine, in these cases.

My problem with all the popular mods is that they all changed something I didn't think needed changing, or fixed something I didn't consider broken.

Crucify me along the Via Appia if you must, but I actually like Stock SE4!

Atro, yes! And I have done so, at least 6 times. My first mod added something called Polymer Technologies, (a la Crystal, Organic, etc) and that was barely a year after SE4 was released.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

I, too, like stock SEIV--even pre-patched stock SEIV. I only began playing mods perhaps a year and a half ago.

I LOVE several of the mods out there, and now play them exclusively.

But from the way pre-patched and or stock SEIV is sometimes described on this forum one would get the impression it was an unplayable mess. For me, it never was.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

Its not unplayable, but it is a mess compared to the mods out there... and even to SE3. Stock SE4 is a mediocre copy of stock SE3 with a lot of stuff tacked on.

Deleting the mounts, and fixing APB/PPB to match the "SE3 x10" scheme that the rest of the weapons used makes a huge difference.

Re: Bah I Give Up
 

SJ, no offense, that's just your opinion. Which is no more and no less relevant than anybody else's opinion http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

You don't like stock. And we do. That's why they make Fords and Chevy's http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

It's not like I'm speaking from total ignorance here. I've checked out most of the major mods. I looked at the new Adamant very recently, and went, "Ohhh, no way!".